In the heart of the Lone Star State, in Frisco, Texas, a new era is dawning for the Dallas Stars. As captain Jamie Benn, 35 years young, prepares to enter the final season of his contract, he finds himself surrounded by a talented group of youngsters eager to make their mark on the NHL.
Among these rising stars are Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston, who have seen success in the Western Conference Final in each of the past two seasons. With their help, Benn hopes to finally lift the coveted Stanley Cup. The Stars are poised for greatness, perhaps more so than at any other time since Benn first stepped onto the ice 15 years ago.
“Yeah, I think so,” Benn remarked confidently. “We’ve got a great group of guys here, a lot of young kids that are ready to play right now and full of energy. I think we have all the pieces to do great things here.”
As Benn continues to lead the team, his focus remains squarely on the present. Despite his impending free agency, the veteran forward made it clear to general manager Jim Nill that his priority is winning this year and leaving contract decisions for later.
“He was very clear: ‘Jim, I just want to win this year and make decisions from there.’ He’s all about the team,” Nill shared. “He’s made it very clear that it’s all about winning.”
With an impressive career behind him, Benn stands on the cusp of history in Dallas. Only Hall of Fame center Mike Modano boasts more regular-season games, goals, points, game-winning goals, and shots in franchise history than Benn. The Stars have come close to glory in recent years, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, only to fall to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.
“My plan, as long as I’m the GM here, he’s going to be a Dallas Star. He’s earned that right,” Nill affirmed. “He’s a little bit of a unicorn, not a lot of players left in the league like him. He’s a blend of the skills, the physicality, the determination.”
Despite his advancing age, Benn shows no signs of slowing down. Under coach Pete DeBoer’s guidance, the captain has maintained his high level of play, all while assuming a reduced workload. DeBoer’s emphasis on four-line depth has allowed Benn to thrive, posting impressive numbers in recent seasons.
“In the first season under DeBoer, Benn had 33 goals and 78 points for his best totals since 2017-18, and a career-best plus-23 rating, even with an average ice time of 15:47 that was his lowest since his 2009-10 rookie season. That was down to 15:07 last year, when he had 21 goals and 60 points,” the statistics speak for themselves.
“I feel pretty good,” Benn admitted. “The older you get, obviously the more you know your body and what you need, what you don’t need and things like that. I think we’ve all managed pretty well the last couple of years here.”
As the Stars prepare for another season, all eyes will be on Jamie Benn and his quest for the Stanley Cup. With a new generation of talent at his side, the veteran leader looks to cement his legacy in Dallas and etch his name in hockey history.
